Theme Parks as an Element of Integrated Recreation Centers

Abstract

The article discusses the international and Russian experience in building and operating theme parks of various functional content to determine the appropriateness of applying such experience when creating recreational zones of a new type on inter-settlement territories. The sequence of changes in the theme of parks in the world and in Russia is considered. The urgency of creating possible conditions for the cohesion of inter­settlement territories and small settlements in the regions of the Central Federal District of the Russian Federation, including through the formation of a recreational framework, including recreational clusters, was emphasized. It is assumed that the regional theme parks of urgent topics can become the "growth points" of recreational zones in the province, as the organization of recreational areas contributes to the favorable solution of issues of employment, leisure, educational process in small towns and other settlements (with a population of up to 20 thousand people). The indicators of the existing state of the zones and recreation facilities of the Bryansk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Tambov regions of the Central Federal District of the Russian Federation are compared. The foreign and domestic experience of creating theme parks is considered (the analysis was carried out by the authors of an article in the framework of research on the topic: 4.3.8 "The scientific basis for the formation of infrastructure for recreation and agrotourism. The scientific basis for the infrastructure-planning organization of recreational territories of small cities of Russia"). The sequence of changes in the theme of parks in the world and in Russia is revealed. The conclusions are drawn, according to which the creation of a significant recreational object common to neighboring territories can be a positive experience in consolidating various administrative units, can attract foreign investment, and will help resolve issues of development of domestic tourism. The options for systematizing the positions of the recreational framework are presented. It was emphasized that the creation by several regions of a common recreational facility in the system of a recreational framework can be a positive experience in solving some of the social and economic problems.